Electrically-actuated railway-switch.



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J. H. BAKER.

ELEGTRICALLY AGTUATED RAILWAY SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 31, 1910.

Patented Dec. 24, 1912.

2 SHEBTSSHEET 1.

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J. H. BAKER.

ELBUTRICALLY AGTUA'I'ED RAILWAY SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED 001', 31 1910 1,048,439. Patented Dec. 24, 1912.

2 SHBETSSHEET 2.

W] T/l/ESSES' f/l/l E/V TOR QM v m JESSE H. saxnia, or HnND-nnsoN, ILLINOIS.

nLEcrnIcaLnY-Ac'rmimn' RAILWAY-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24, 19 12.

Application filed October 31, 1910. Serial No. 590,005.

- To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Jesse H. BAKER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Henderson, in the county ofKnox and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Electrically-Actuated Railwayvices; fourth, to obtain great Switch, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to railway switches which may be thrown from a signal station, from anengine cab,zfrom a car, or from any other suitable point, and which may be manually actuated at the switch.

The principal objects of the invention- .may be concisely stated as followsz first, to

achieve the foregoing recited matters with certainty; second, to provide simple, durable means for achieving them; third, to simplify the construction'of this class of dcpower; fifth, to conserve space by compacting the features of the invention into a small body;

sixth, to save time by not having to stop trains to permit a trainman to dismount from the train to throw the switch; seventh, to save fuel which would be consumed during the period of slowing up, stopping and starting; eighth, to provide for safety, by furnishing means which are practically certain in their application and operation; and, ninth, to furnish novel means whereby the switch can be manually actuated without actuating all the elements which are re-- quired when it is normally or. electrically actuated,

Minor objects will be in part obvious and art pointed out. o the attainment of the foregoing. ends and objects the invention consists in the peculiar constructions, certain novelcombinations, and in the adaptations ofparts hereinafter described and claimed. And

indicates the same part in the different figures: Figure 1 is a plan viewypartly diagrammatic; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the gear and parts connected therewith; Fig. 3 an enlar ed detail of the hand-crank an ratchet; ig. 4, an enlarged detail, 'a front elevation, part1 broken away, ta en in the line 4-4 in Fig. 1; Fig. 5, an enlar ed detail of the compensatiiig spring; an Fig. 6, an enlarged detail of the hand-ratchet mechanism. I

Reference being had to said drawings; 1 represents a motor, which may be of any suitable construction. 2, 3 are batteries, and 4--5, relays. Each relay is equipped with the usual points, 6-6 and 77.

8 is a wire running to a battery, thence to one of the relay points 7 A wire 9 conmeets the other relay oint 7 with the motor 1. A wire 10 runs fi om one of the switch track rails to a connect-ion m, thence to the other relay point 6. 12 is a wire connecting two portions of the-third rail, and 13 is a wire connecting one of said portions and a third portion t ereof. Wires 14 and 15 lead from the third and one of the main track rails to the points of the electric switch '16. This mode of wiring, as also the motor, tne batteries, the relays and the electric switch, are all common to the electrical art and their functions and purposes will be readily understood b those skilled therein. It will also be on erstood that these may be changed and any other suitable electrical devices substituted therefor. It will be evident also that while I have shown two relays it would be possible to employ but one; in the latter case there is dan er of the motor batteries short-circuiting t rough the relay batteries or vice versa.

17 indicates a gear-supporting frame composed of a pair of parallel bent bars provided with feet 18 which are adapted forattachment by lag screws 19 to any suitable in section and partly frame bars. Fixed on the shaft 26 is a driving pinion 27 which engages a spur 29 rotatably mounted on a crank-shaft 30 mounted in bearings in the frame-bars. A wheel 31 provided with diametrically oppositely disposed tripping-dogs 32 on its perimeter is keyed on the inner end of the shaft 30, and a ratchet-wheel 33 is similarly fixed on the outer portion of said shaft. A pawl 34 actuatedby a spring 35 is pivoted on one of the spokes of the wheel 29 for a purpose'presently described. Near its outer port-ion the shaft 30 carries a ratchet wheel 36 fixed thereon and adapted for engagement "with a pawl 37 pivoted on a crankarm 38 loosely mounted on the same shaft.

39 is a connecting'rod mount-ed on and actuated by the crank of the shaft 30, and its other end pivotally engaged at 39 with the upper end, of a rocker 40 fulcrumed at 41in the upper end of standards '42 secured to any suitable base or support. Pivoted at 43 to the, lower end of the rocker is a link 44, the other end of which is pivotally connected with a rack-actuating bar 45 which passes freely through eyes in a pair of bosses 46 rising from a rack-bar 47 shown best at Fig. 6. Toward the free end of the bar 45 it is embraced by a collar 49 fixed rigidly thereon by a large pin 50 or in any other suitable manner, and embracing said bar, between each boss 46 and said collar is a coil spring 51.

Now see Figs. 1 and 4. 52 is a switchlight-stand base provided with a cent ral recess in which the lower end of the signal or switch-light standard seats to center and steady it. 53 is a switch light or signal stand, its upper portion being in the form of a goose-neck and provided with an eye 54 'in which the standard 55 may turn. 56 is a bent arm fixed to the stand 53 and provided with an eye 57 which serves as a bearing for the standard. The base of the standard is annular and provided with cogs to form a pinion 58, with which the teeth of the rack 47 mesh and are held in proper engagement by a projection 59 from the base 52.

The projecting end of the plate 47 is bifurcated and receivesone end of a switchpoint-actuating rod 60 pivoted thereto at 79, which rod carries clips 61 to which are secured the switch-points 62.

63 designates either one of the main track rails, and 64 either one of the passing-track or switch-track rails, all of which are fixed to the usual ties 65 in the usual manner.

The specific character of the switch has not to do with my invention; however, in some localities, especially where snow and ice are prevalent, a stub-switch may be used to good advantage.

73 designates a third rail, secured in place by suitable means 69 and 72.

It is not my intention to limit my claims to any specific form of third or supplemental rail.

One element of a circuitbreaker comprises a foot 74 which is bent upwardly and terminates in a curved spring 75. The other element comprises an integral foot 76 and standard 77 the latter provided with a threaded aperture for the reception of a setscrew 78, the point of which engages the member 75. The circuit 10 engages the foot of both members.

The engine, the way-car or caboose, or one of the passenger cars must be equipped with some suitable means in order'to establish electrical connection between a main and the supplemental rail. I have not seen fit to illustrate any specific means for doing this, as 1their forms or constructions are unessentia It will be evident that the devices may be operated'by the switch 16, whether it be placed at the depot, the signal station, at the railway switch, or elsewhere.

Presume the parts to be in the relative positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with one of the pawls just having passed the circuitbreaker. In this position the main track is closed. To open it, whereby a train would be thrown onto the passing-track, the operator by throwing the lever of the electric switch 16 into contact with the terminal of the wire 15 (and, of course, instantly freeing it therefrom), will complete a circuit of the battery 3 through the coils of the relays 4 and 5, which circuit passes through the circuit-breaker, causing the points 6 of relay 5 to close, thus maintaining the circuit, and the points 7 of'the relay 4 to also close,- completing the circuit of the battery 2 through the motor 1, causing it to rotate. Simultaneously with the rotation of the motor the shaft 20 thereof will impart movement to the driving pinion 21 and thereby to the train of gear 22, 24, .25, 27, and 29', and the ratchet 33 and pawl 34, and thereby the crank-shaft 30, which will rock the rocker on its fulcrum 41. The forward movement of the shaft 30 will thus'impart rearward movement to the link 44 and the rod 45, which, being fixed to the rack-bar 47 will impart like movement thereto and thereby impart a partrevolution to the switch-stand pinion and thereby to the'signals actuated thereby. The end of the rackbar being secured to the switch-point-actuating rod 60 will, through the instrumentality of the clips 61 move the switch points, in an evident manner, to throw the train onto the passing track. When the wheel 31 has made a one-half revolution, one of the dogs 32 will come in contact with the spring of the circuit breaker, freeing it from contact with the set-screw 78 and breaking the circuit 10 thus releasing the relays to their initial positions.

To actuate the switch-points from the engine or a car, any suitable connection is made between the'engine or car and the third rail. For instance, a lever, the power arm of which is disposed conveniently for access by" the engineer, may be arranged with its weight arm, (which should be slightly bent to form a shoe, or which might be provided with a small wheel) adapted to be thrown into contact with the third rail, in either the main or passing-track. The lever would of course need be a conductor in order that it would, through a metallic portion ofthe engine or the car,

close a circuit between the track rails and i the third rail. The lever would preferably be either spring or gravity-resisted, in order that it would automatically return to its normal position.

nism, the operator by actuating the crank 38 counter-clockhandwis'e, will throw the pawl 37 into engagement with the ratchet wheel 36, which, being fixed on the shaft 30, will impart movement thereto and to the rod 39 in an evident manner. It will be seen that inasmuch as the wheel 29 is loosely mounted on said shaft, it and the other parts of the gear train are not disturbed.

It it preferable that the motor and geartrain be suitably incased for protection from the elements as well as from unauthorized persons;

Wherever the term switch-point occurs in the preceding description, as also wherever it occurs in the appended claims, it refers to and must be construed to cover any shifting rail or similar device.

It will be manifest that I have provided the train of gear in order to obtain power and a proper degree of speed. It will, of course, be evident that the rotary mechanism may be changed to suit the needs or requirements in particular places.

Having thus described my invention, I.

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following, to-wit 1. In combination, a motor, a train of gear actuated thereby and including a crankshaft, a spur-wheel rotatably mounted on said shaft, a ratchet-wheel fixed thereon, a

In order to manually actuate the mecha-.

crank-arm loosely mounted on said shaft, a pawl pivoted on said arm and adapted for engagements with said ratchet, a railwayswitch-point, and means interposed between the crank-shaft and said switch point for moving the latter.

2. In a switch, an electric circuit, a circuit maker and breaker, simultaneously acting relays in said circuit, an electric switch also therein and adapted to control it, the contact points of one of said relays being in said Oil: cuit and adapted to maintain it after it has been established and until said circuit has been interrupted by said circuit maker and breaker, the latter being a part of said circuit and adapted to interrupt the energization of said relays.

3. In a switch of the character described,

an electric circuit, a battery therein, simultaneously acting relays also in said circuit,

the contact points of one thereof also in said circuit and adapted to maintain the energization of said relays, a circuit maker and breaker also in said circuit and adapted to interrupt the energization of said relays, and a train of gear, one element thereof adapted to cause said circuit maker and breaker to interrupt said circuit. 4. In a railway switch, an electric switch, Ian electric circuit, main track rails, one of them in said circuit, switch track rails, one of them in said circuit, a supplemental rail also in said circuit, which rail by a suitable connection between it and the track rails establishes a circuit throu h the coils of the relays, simultaneously acting relays in said circuit, said electric switch adapted to establish a closed circuit through the coils of said relays, the contact points of one of said relays being alsoin said circuit and adapted to maintain said closed circuit, and said "switch, after establishing said circuit, adapted to immediately again open.

5. In a railway switch, a train of gear, a motor adapted to actuate it, a battery adapted to actuate said motor, an electric circuit including said battery, a second circuit independent thereof, and ,a relay, the contact points thereof being in the first recited circuit and adapted to control the energization of said motor, said relay being energized and controlled by the independent circuit.

6. In a railway switch, a motor, a train of gear actuated thereby and including a crank-shaft, a spur wheel rotatably mounted on said shaft, a ratchet wheel fixed thereon, a pawl ivoted on said s ur wheel and adapted or engagement wit said ratchet, a railway switch-point, and means interposed between said shaft and point whereby the latter is actuated by the former.

.7. In a railway switch, a motor, a train of gear actuated thereby and including a crank-shaft, a spur wheel rotatably mounted on said shaft, a ratchet wheel fixed thereon, a pawl pivoted on'said wheel and adapted for engagements with said ratchet, and means whereby said crank-shaftmay be actuated independently of and without actuating said gear.

8. In a railway switch, a train of gear, a motor for actuating it, a circuit maker and breaker, simultaneously-acting relays, two electric circuits, one of which energizes said relays, the other circuit controlled by the contact points of said relays and-energizing said motor, the contact points of the other relay being so connected in said circuit energizing said relays that they maintain .a closed circuit through the coils of said relays after the circuit has been established, until said circuit is interrupted by said maker and breaker, the latter constituting a part of said relay-energizing circuit and itself 0on trolled by'said gear.

9. 111a railway switch, a train of gear, an electric motor for actuating it, simultaneously-acting relays, two electric circuits, one of which energizes said relays, a battery, switch-points, one of which is in the circuit which energizes said relays, and a circuit makerand breaker adapted to control the energization of said relays. 10. In a switch, an electric circuit, a motor in said circuit, gear actuated by said motor,

a circuit breaker adapted to make and break the circuit, actuated by said gear, a railway switch-point, means interposed between said gear and switch-point whereby the latter is actuated, and means for-manually actuating said switch-point. v

11. In a switch, an electric circuit, a motor in saidcircuit, a circuit breaker also therein, a relay also therein, a railway switch-point, means interposed between said motor and switch-point whereby the latter is actuated by the former, and means for manually actuating the switch-point;

12. Ina switch, an electric motor, electrical means for actuating it, a railway switch-point, means interposed between said motor and switch-point whereby the latter is actuated, and means for manually actuating it.

13. In a switch, an electric motor, a source of electric supply'for impelling it, a railway switch-point, means actuated by said motor and adapted to actuate said point, and means for manually actuating the latter. I

In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand this 24th day of October, 1910.

JESSE H. BAKER. Witnesses:

B. A. HURPP, WEBB A. HERLocKER. 

